Cost of Living Comparison Between Jizan and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Jizan and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $914 per month in Jizan vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Jizan vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,137 per month in Jizan vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Jizan is about 28% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Jizan and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Jizan 33% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 SAR 19.76

$11.60 MX$200

-54.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.59 SAR 137

$47.11 MX$812

-22.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.37 SAR 27.68

$11.88 MX$205

-37.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 SAR 6.43

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 SAR 6.87

Cappuccino

$3.27 SAR 12.29

$3.98 MX$68.6

-17.84%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 SAR 2.89

$1.43 MX$24.60

-46.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 SAR 0.97

$0.82 MX$14.22

-68.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$1.68 MX$28.89

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 SAR 3.64

$2.20 MX$37.88

-55.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 SAR 8.44

$1.71 MX$29.45

31.58%

Eggs

$2.98 SAR 11.19

$2.74 MX$47.26

8.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.56 SAR 28.38

$9.58 MX$165

-21.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.28 SAR 19.81

$9.01 MX$155

-41.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.38 SAR 54.0

$12.81 MX$221

12.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 SAR 7.05

$2.89 MX$49.81

-34.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

$1.50 MX$25.81

4.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 SAR 8.01

$2.15 MX$37.03

-0.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 SAR 5.42

$2.26 MX$38.96

-36.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.41 SAR 5.31

$1.98 MX$34.15

-28.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 SAR 5.62

$1.99 MX$34.30

-24.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 SAR 4.59

$1.23 MX$21.28

-0.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 SAR 2.96

$1.20 MX$20.63

-34.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.58 SAR 5.95

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 SAR 7.23

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 SAR 6.08

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.61 SAR 24.83

$4.55 MX$78.5

45.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.09

$0.60 MX$10.35

81.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.60 SAR 88.6

$28.80 MX$497

-18.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 SAR 10.10

$5.39 MX$92.9

-50.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.35 SAR 12.58

$3.73 MX$64.3

-10.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.73 SAR 59.1

$5.77 MX$99.5

172.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.23

$1.54 MX$26.48

-61.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$44.0K SAR 165.3K

$22.5K MX$388.8K

95.21%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.4K SAR 65.2K

$26.1K MX$449.3K

-33.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$105 SAR 394

$91.4 MX$1,576

14.75%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$37.02 SAR 139

$25.20 MX$435

46.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.1 SAR 241

$31.24 MX$539

105.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.0 SAR 364

$67.2 MX$1,159

44.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.06 SAR 143

$29.11 MX$502

30.75%

Cinema Ticket

$16.17 SAR 60.8

$4.86 MX$83.8

232.72%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$198 SAR 742

$224 MX$3,856

-11.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,179 SAR 15.7K

$4,229 MX$72.9K

-1.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.14 SAR 124

$47.10 MX$812

-29.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.7 SAR 202

$44.29 MX$764

21.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 SAR 454

$80.1 MX$1,381

50.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.64 SAR 175

$92.7 MX$1,598

-49.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 SAR 1,017

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-74.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 SAR 502

$390 MX$6,728

-65.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$473 SAR 1,777

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-77.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 SAR 1,362

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-71.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$791 SAR 2,972

$4,001 MX$69.0K

-80.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,609 SAR 6,043

$758 MX$13.1K

112.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

-56.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jizan: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $271 in Jizan versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 112% higher in Jizan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Jizan versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $276 – making Jizan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Jizan vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 38% more than Jizan, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,372 per month in Jizan and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jizan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $914 in Jizan and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 22% less in Jizan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Jizan, where all-in costs run around $914, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Jizan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jizan costs $914 versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Jizan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.